How Other Countries Celebrate Thanksgiving

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Wednesday November 15th 2017

Photo via http://ow.ly/VmVt30gCy29

I love getting together with family and friends to enjoy a delicious
meal on Thanksgiving. I like to combine traditional favorites like
turkey, stuffing, and cranberries with new dishes like rosemary sweet potato stackers
and crescent rolls stuffed with veggies and cheese. Most of us think of
Thanksgiving as a uniquely American holiday, but days of gratitude are
celebrated all over the world. Check out how other countries celebrate
Thanksgiving around this time of year!

China

The Mid-Autumn Festival is China's Thanksgiving celebration. It
occurs in the eighth month of the lunar calendar, on the fifteenth day,
which usually falls in late September or early October. During this
time, they celebrate the full moon that is closely connected with the
fall harvest. The Chinese eat mooncakes with an egg yolk in the middle
as part of their celebration.

Japan

Labor Thanksgiving Day, or Kinro Kansha no Hi, takes place in Japan
on Nov. 23. This is a day to celebrate the community as well as the
production happening throughout the country. The Japanese thank one
another for their labor on this day. Shrimp chips and seaweed salad are
some traditional dishes the Japanese eat on this holiday.

Canada

Canadians started celebrating Thanksgiving in 1578, but it didn't
become a national holiday until 1879. Like Americans, they hold this
celebration to give thanks for the harvest. In Canada, Thanksgiving,
also known as l'Action de Grace, takes place on the second Monday in
October. Turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, and stuffing are typical dishes
on a Thanksgiving table in Canada.

Liberia

Liberia's Thanksgiving celebration takes place on the first Thursday
of this month. The tradition was started in the 19th century by freed
slaves. Fruits grown in Liberia including bananas, pineapples, mangoes,
and papayas are abundant on dinner tables in Liberia on this day.

Puerto Rico

On the fourth Thursday in November, people in Puerto Rico celebrate
Thanksgiving in much the same way as the rest of Americans. But a
Thanksgiving table in Puerto Rico is likely to include roast pork, rice
and beans, slow-roasted pavochon, and blood sausage. Instead of pumpkin
pie, Puerto Ricans enjoy tembleque, a cinnamon coconut custard, for dessert. I like this idea. I'm putting tembleque on my menu this Thanksgiving!

Grenada

Thanksgiving Day in Grenada is on Oct. 25. This island has survived
many years of political unrest. The United States stepped in to help the
people of this island fight against the spread of communism. As a
result, many people in Grenada hold a traditional American Thanksgiving
celebration.

Norfolk Island

On Norfolk Island, an Australian territory in the Pacific Ocean,
Thanksgiving takes place on the last Wednesday in November. The
tradition began in the 19th century with an American trader named Issac
Robinson. He decorated All Saints Church using palm leaves and lemons in
an effort to bring other whalers into the area to join the celebration.
Today, people on Norfolk Island still decorate the church and its altar
with cornstalks and flowers. Also, they bring fruit and vegetables to
share with their neighbors.

Germany

Thanksgiving is a religious ceremony in Germany. It's known as
Erntedankfest and happens on the first Sunday in October. Germans
celebrate the harvest and their good fortune throughout the year, and
instead of turkey, the celebrations include cooked chicken, hens and
geese.

I hope you found it inspiring to hear about the different Thanksgiving traditions from around the world!